[Blindmath] how did your TVIs assist you?

Mon Nov 30 18:41:24 UTC 2015

I agree with Amanda here. This may be a different take on it, but I don't really think it is all the students fault or the fault of a disability office. A lot of it has to do with the professors. For example, I will never take another computer science course until I transfer to university. I received the accommodations I asked for from the office for students with disabilities, and I did my work and prepared it and all of that in all cases. The real problem came from encountering the professors and department personnel who only care about the sighted students and their classrooms. I'm sure if you ask them, they would deny it, but they have shown me through various things like the way they teach their courses, Ignore accessibility and universal design in their development curriculum, and so forth, that they only care about the success of sighted students. So how do you prepare your student for a world that considers them the problem with a perceived, yet unspoken solution of ejecting them from the university environment or finding a miraculous way to change their physical characteristics to be more in line with what society wants? I don't know. I wish I had been prepared for that myself. However, I really don't know how anyone could've done it.

Sabra Ewing

On Nov 30, 2015, at 12:17 PM, Amanda Lacy via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>> University ought to be enjoyable and not be like standing on a beach watching a tidal wave
>> coming, especially for those that can't see it.
> 
> But that's exactly how it is, at least for me. Just as I'm starting to
> gain my balance again I'm knocked over by another wave. People are
> telling me I should explore, have fun, and enjoy the challenge, but
> all I have time for is survival. I experience no joy, not anymore.
> Meanwhile, the sighted ones are all talking about what they want to
> take next semester like it's some great adventure. It's always some
> course I couldn't dream of taking because I can't read the textbooks.
> 
> Yes, I'm fully aware of LaTeX. Usually I have to beg for it, and I
> don't always get it. And y'all should see some of the barely-usable
> LaTeX I've received. It wasn't much better than no LaTeX at all.
> 
> There are also plenty of CS courses about graphics, but none about
> sound. They poison everything with graphics.
> 
> I'm graduating with a bachelors in CS in May, and I don't think I'm
> ever going back.
> 
> Sorry for the reality, guys.
> 
> Amanda
> 
>> On 11/30/15, Godfrey, Jonathan via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> I'd like all professionals in the business of helping students ask their
>> former students what things they actively did that left them unprepared for
>> university. This is not really covered by the questions posed in Maureen's
>> message.
>> 
>> All too often I am observing 18-20 year old blind people lack independence
>> and confidence and therefore struggle at university. The support mechanisms
>> they had on hand during high school are no longer there; the disability
>> support systems are not ready to help them; and the educators they must work
>> with have even less idea. The issues are even further compounded in the STEM
>> fields where so many additional skills are needed.
>> 
>> In particular, I'd like to have seen more of the students I've come across
>> gain experience preparing their own homework during high school so that they
>> have experience before they get to university where there are so many other
>> new things to have to deal with.
>> 
>> University ought to be enjoyable and not be like standing on a beach
>> watching a tidal wave coming, especially for those that can't see it.
>> 
>> Jonathan
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of derek
>> riemer via Blindmath
>> Sent: Tuesday, 1 December 2015 5:41 a.m.
>> To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>> Cc: derek riemer
>> Subject: Re: [Blindmath] how did your TVIs assist you?
>> 
>> Hi,
>> If your student is planning to pursue a stem degree, then introduce them to
>> la tex a bit. They should learn it asap as a college student because many
>> stem materials may be more accessible in la tex format. Also, ensure that
>> they know nemeth braille. It is insane how many people I know don't know
>> nemeth braille, and it is essential to have tactile feedback of the math.
>> Also, having them transcribe math to you as well as having them use a tool
>> like nemetex will help them ensure they are prepared for the process of
>> converting math in college. I don't know anyone in a college setting who can
>> have a tvi or someone interline their homework. It is essential to learn how
>> to verbally transcribe homework, especially in more complex courses. You can
>> mostly survive calc 1 and 2 with a tool like nemetex, but in upper level
>> courses such as linear algebra, I found it necessary to use paper with
>> braille to even understand the material. Some of it is spacial enough that
>> the tech isn't quite ready to present the math correctly. Also, without a
>> transcriber to transcribe (verbally I read them what I wanted them to
>> write) math in linear algebra, it meant at least 3 hours of typing out the
>> matrices in la tex. This is compared to half an hour reading it to someone
>> who was skilled at writing that level of math.
>> Hth.
>> 
>>> On 11/30/2015 8:07 AM, Lewicki, Maureen via Blindmath wrote:
>>> Good morning!  I am a TVI of some great and capable students. Would you do
>>> me a favor? Could you reflect back on your high school years and let me
>>> know:
>>> 
>>> Did you have a TVI supporting you?
>>> What did he/she do to prepare you for college and career?
>>> What do you regret the TVI did not do to prepare you?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your input! My career is not long enough to make all my own
>>> mistakes! I would rather learn from others' mistakes and strengths!!
>>> 
>>> Maureen Murphy Lewicki
>>> Teacher of the Visually Impaired
>>> Bethlehem Central School District
>>> Bethlehem High School
>>> 700 Delaware Ave
>>> Delmar, NY 12054
>>> http://www.bethlehemschools.org<http://www.bethlehemschools.org/>
>>> Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
>>> experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,
>>> ambition inspired, and success
>>> achieved.<http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/30186.html> Helen Keller
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> --
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> 
>>    Derek Riemer
>> 
>>  * Department of computer science, third year undergraduate student.
>>  * Proud user of the NVDA screen reader.
>>  * Open source enthusiast.
>>  * Member of Bridge Cu
>>  * Avid skiier.
>> 
>> Websites:
>> Honors portfolio <http://derekriemer.drupalgardens.com>
>> Non-proffessional website. <http://derekriemer.pythonanywhere.com/personal>
>> Awesome little hand built weather app that rocks!
>> <http://derekriemer.pythonanywhere.com/weather>
>> 
>> email me at derek.riemer at colorado.edu <mailto:derek.riemer at colorado.edu>
>> Phone: (303) 906-2194
>> 
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> 
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